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Nor-Cal Honor Band Solo Preparation Exercises

2005

To help scale preparation, use the scale sheet to:

• Practice the scales all slurred
• Practice the scales all tongued
• Practice the scales with the marked articulation
• Practice the scales in all keys (perhaps start lower and move up 1 week at a time)

Other scale exercises:

• Clarke Technical study #1 (helps prepare for chromatic scale and exercises range)
• Clarke Technical studies etude #1 (helps prepare for chromatic scale and exercises range)
• Arbans p 79 #8, 9 (helps prepare for chromatic scale and exercises range)
• Schlossberg #117, 118, 119, 125 (helps prepare for chromatic scale and exercises range)
• Schlossberg #90, 91, 93, 113 (helps prepare for scales and exercises range)
• Schlossberg #1-4 and #7-11 (helps gain control of lower register for starting notes of lower scales)

To help solo preparation, use the solo to:

• Change all double tongued passages to 8^th notes (make sure fingers and air are working well)
• Practice all passages on the mouthpiece (to help your ear and accuracy)
• Sing all passages
• Practice phrases with opposite dynamics and articulations (to gain control)
• Reduce a phrase to a summary of a few notes-slur them and check that the sound on those targets is full and relaxed
• Transpose a phrase to a new key (this makes the original seem easier)

Other solo passage exercises:

• Arbans p 175 #81, p 176 #82, 84, 85, 86, p182 #113 (helps with double tongue passages)
• Concone Lyrical Studies (all) (helps develop a sense of phrasing and lyricsism)
• Arbans p 185 #1-characteristic study (helps develop facility for fast passages)
• Schuebruk Lip Trainers (all) (helps with entrances and dynamics)

Additional practice suggestions:

• Practice slowly (edge the tempo up a little at a time over several weeks)
• Rest adequately while practicing
• Practice all passages single tongued and convert to double tongue once you have control
• Don’t neglect your regular practice during solo preparation time
• Maintain a general practice schedule to develop consistency in your playing and sound
• Listen to at least 2 different recordings of the solo
• Practice with a tuner
• Practice with a metronome
• Record your practice sessions to find your own deficiencies (play it back at ½ speed if possible)
• Think about what you are doing (mentally prepare) before you do it
• Hear the phrase in motion before you start
• Every note must have forward motion
• Try to minimize embouchure movement when playing anything that involve s an extreme register change
• All notes must represent their full rhythmic and sound value
• All notes should be played with a full, clear, resonant tone
• Listen to details when you practice and play the solo